Troy Smith will have a grand total of three CFL starts under his belt when the Alouettes take on the Tiger-Cats on Sunday. Much crazier things have happened in the CFL.

The bottom line is Montreal’s defence is one of the top outfits in the league. It might even be the best. So, if they can get Smith to simply manage the game and not make mistakes, the Alouettes just might have a chance to go to Toronto on Nov. 17.

Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner, has played in the NFL, and he seems to be a pretty even-keeled pivot. The big question is whether he can continue to be that way now that it’s do or die.

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LB Kyries Hebert

The weak-side linebacker is a great complement to Chip Cox, and he suffered a leg injury of some kind in Friday’s finale against Toronto. The defence is much stronger with him in the lineup.

INSIDER SAYS

“They must put together a smart offensive game plan.”

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (10-8)

Tiger-Cats quarterback Henry Burris threw two touchdown passes on Saturday in Winnipeg, marking the first time in four games he was able to accomplish the seemingly easy CFL feat of throwing a TD toss.

Prior to the game, Hamilton GM and head coach Kent Austin scoffed at the notion Burris has been struggling, saying it was more the teammates around him that were causing the problems.

Hamilton’s offensive and defensive lines are among the worst of the six remaining teams, but there’s not much they can do about that now. The Ticats need Burris to be Smilin’ Hank on Sunday in Guelph. That’s all there is to it.

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SB Andy Fantuz

The Chatham, Ont., product exploded out of the gate with 10 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown in the season-opener, but he got hurt, missed the next five games and hasn’t been the same since. He needs to pick it up.

INSIDER SAYS

“They need to come up with a balanced offensive attack.”

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (11-7)

They say defence wins championships, which is why some are thinking the Argos are going to be in tough to repeat this year.

The Toronto defence is a bit of an enigma going into the post-season. It gave up more total yards and more passing yards than any team this season — and that includes the disastrous defences in Edmonton and Winnipeg — yet it allowed the third fewest points.

In other words, the bend-but-don’t-break defence that the Argos relied on when Mike O’Shea was patrolling the middle of the defence is back. But will it be enough to get them back to the big game?

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QB Ricky Ray

He completed a whopping 77.2% of his passes this season, the Boatmen were 6-4 when he started for them. Ray will become the first quarterback in CFL history with four Grey Cup wins if he can pull it off this year.

INSIDER SAYS

“They need to work on keeping Ricky Ray clean.”

B.C. LIONS (11-7)

The big question in Vancouver this week will be: Travis Lulay or Buck Pierce? Lulay missed six games with a throwing shoulder injury but played during two possessions in Friday night’s meaningless win over the Stampeders. It was obvious from how emotional he was during his half-time TSN interview that he likes how his shoulder feels.

Pierce, who was acquired from Winnipeg in September, beat up on the Eskimos 11 days ago and suffered a chest injury on Friday night but should be good to go if required.

Don’t be surprised if Lions head coach Mike Benevides doesn’t name his starter until late in the week, just to keep the Roughriders guessing.

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LB Adam Bighill

Bighill is the key piece of B.C.’s smothering defence. Whether he’s popping the running back at the line of scrimmage or chasing down receivers well down field, the man is simply a beast.

INSIDER SAYS

“Travis Lulay needs to work on chemistry with the rest of the offence.”

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (14-4)

The worst thing that could have happened to the Green and White was its red-hot start to the season. The Riders were 8-1 after Labour Day and had five games with at least 400 yards of net offence.

They haven’t been nearly as explosive since — Saturday’s 514 yards in a meaningless loss doesn’t count.

Running back Kory Sheets cooled off after getting hurt, last weekend he had a blowup with offensive co-ordinator George Cortez, and Riders fans won’t trust QB Darian Durant until he wins six or seven Grey Cups in a row.

The Riders will facing a tough B.C. defence in the West semifinal. They need to make sure their offence is purring.

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OL Brendon LaBatte

The left guard is getting paid a ton of money to pave the way for Kory Sheets, and the Riders are at their best when they have a balanced attack. LaBatte will need to be at the top of his game Sunday.

INSIDER SAYS

“They need to determine how to handle the pressure on and off the field.”

CALGARY STAMPEDERS (14-4)

Rest versus rust is a situation a coach never wants to face at the end of the regular season, because there is no easy answer. Stamps coach John Hufnagel decided he didn’t want his starters sitting for two weeks, so he played most of them on Friday night in B.C.

The Stamps ended up paying the price, losing three starters to injuries — their leading receiver, Marquay McDaniel, along with two defensive tackles in Demonte Bolden and Micah Johnson.

Overcoming injuries was not a problem this season for the Stamp, a league leaders in man-games lost, yet still posted a delicious 14-4 record.

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RB Jon Cornish

The league rushing leader this season got four carries against the Lions on Friday and then got a scare when he banged up his shoulder, so head coach John Hufnagel gave him the hook.